Aerie School for Backcountry Medicine Instructors are emergency care providers and have firsthand experience managing backcountry medical emergencies as EMT’s and nurses. All instructors possess years of experience in the wilderness.

John Ashley earned his B.A. in Biology with an emphasis in Natural History from the University of Montana. He has worked to conserve harlequin ducks in Montana, Alberta and British Columbia for more years than he can remember.

Brian Baxter earned his B.S. in Wildlife Biology from Western Carolina University. He is a wildlife researcher and project coordinator for Silver Cloud Associates, a natural resource information company based in Libby, Montana. He has been involved in forest carnivore research in North America for the past fifteen years and is a member of the Western Forest Carnivore Committee. His published works include "On Silent Feet, Following the Lynx Pathways”, an article in Montana Magazine, January/February, 2002.

Janet Paul Bones earned her M.Ed. in Environmental Science Education from the University of Montana. She is a teacher in the Flathead Valley and has developed science curriculum for several local school districts. She grew up spending summers in Glacier and later became a Glacier Park ranger-naturalist and an interpreter for the U.S. Forest Service. Since 1992, Janet has been study leader for the Smithsonian Institution’s tour of Glacier National Park.

Karsten Carlson earned his B.A. degree from Western Washington University in Environmental Education, with a minor in Geology. He moved to the Flathead Valley in 2000 to complete an internship at the Big Creek Education Center as a teacher and naturalist. Since that first summer, he has been working for Glacier Raft Company as a fly shop manager and guide for fly-fishing trips on both the Middle Fork and North Fork of the Flathead River.

Doug Chadwick earned his M.S. in Wildlife Biology from the University of Montana. Doug conducted research on mountain goats in the Crown of the Continent ecosystem throughout the 1970's and published the definitive work: A Beast the Color of Winter in 1983.

Larry Evans earned his B.S. in Botany with a minor in Microbiology from University of Montana. He has been collecting mushrooms and teaching about them since 1980. Larry is the founder of the Western Montana Mycological Association and edits the Fungal Jungle newsletter, www.fungaljungal.org. He works as contributing editor for Mushroom: The Journal of Wild Mushrooming.

Patricia Fialcowitz earned her B.F.A. in printmaking from Rosemont College. She is a biodynamic farmer, artist and craftsperson. She has been weaving exquisite harvest, market and storage baskets for her produce for over twenty years.

Diane Friend earned a B.A. in astronomy and mathematics from San Diego State University and an M.S. in Geology from the University of Montana. An instructor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Montana since 1990, Diane has hosted the summer open house nights at the University's Blue Mountain Observatory as well as giving astronomy, star, and celestial navigation talks with organizations such as the Montana Natural History Center, Traveler's Rest State Park, and the U.S. Forest Service.

Chris Frissell earned his Ph.D. in Fisheries Science from Oregon State University. He is a senior staff scientist for The Pacific Rivers Council, a conservation organization working to protect and restore the waters of the West.

Bob Geyer earned his BS in biology from Cal Poly Pomona, and a Doctorate Degree from the California College of Podiatric Medicine in San Francisco. He has enjoyed fishing since he was a very young boy. After retiring from his private practice 20 years ago, he has become obsessed with fly fishing; tying all of his own flies and fishing local waters extensively, as well as throughout the state. Bob lives on Flathead Lake with his wife, Kyle, and is particularly interested in conserving our native fish stocks, our streams and preserving public access.

Joe Giersch earned his M.S. in Entomology from Montana State University. Joe has worked as a fisheries technician and illustrator in the Park since 2003 and spends his winters identifying aquatic insects for contract projects.

Denver Holt earned his B.A. in History from University of Montana with additional studies in wildlife biology. He is the founder and president of the Owl Research Institute and the Ninepipes Wildlife Research and Education Center. Since 1978, he has been studying owls in the United States, Mexico and Costa Rica. In addition to countless magazine publications, Denver’s snowy owl research has been featured in National Geographic Magazine.

Grayce Holzheimer earned three degrees, a B.F.A. in Drawing and Sculpture from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale,  M.F.A. in Sculpture at Montana State University and a Master of Teaching and Learning from the University of Great Falls. She is currently the Art Faculty at the College of Technology at Montana State University, Great Falls, and teaches drawing, painting and sculpture. Growing up on the Rocky Mountain Front and with many years as a Montana river guide have influenced her artwork. She has been featured in many publications including Montana Magazine.

Richard Horn, Blackfeet, is a cultural expert of old crafting techniques, deep cultural knowledge of the past, and stories that add depth to the rules of the games.   He has taught people of all ages who always comment on the unusually ancient oral history he shares with the teaching of traditional games. Richard was the organizer for the 2000 Traditional Games camp at Red Eagle and just recently has recovered four games from relatives north of the border. Mr. Horn is well respected by people of all tribes.

Ellen Horowitz earned her B.S. in Resource Recreation Management from Oregon State University. She has conducted field courses and natural history tours for more than twenty-five years. Her work as a teacher, guide, writer and consultant focuses on the plants and animals of the Crown of the Continent ecosystem. She has published articles in Montana Magazine and Montana Outdoors.

Chuck Jonkel earned his Ph.D. in Zoology from the University of British Columbia with a wildlife emphasis. He has studied grizzly and polar bears for more than forty years. Chuck is the founder of the Ursid Research Center and the International Wildlife Film Festival. Dorothy Hinshaw Patent has written a book about his work, A Polar Bear Biologist at Work. He is the co-founder, scientific advisor, and president of the Great Bear Foundation.

Jeff Kuhn earned his M.S. in Geology from University of Montana. He has worked in Glacier National Park as a seasonal ranger at the Belly River Ranger Station and at Park Headquarters for over ten years. He currently works as a manager and hydrogeologist for the Petroleum Release section of the Montana Department of Environmental Quality.

Kyran Kunkel earned his Ph.D. in Wildlife Biology from University of Montana. He conducted research on the predator and prey dynamics in the North Fork of the Flathead Valley from 1991-1997, publishing the results of his research in his dissertation. He served as regional wildlife biologist for the National Park Service in Alaska and as senior biologist for the Turner Endangered Species Fund. Currently, he serves as Affiliate Assistant Professor at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks, University of Montana and Montana State University. Also, he is senior biologist focusing on research and conservation of carnivores in western North America.

Heather Nack-Culbreth earned her B.S. in Resource Conservation with a minor in Wilderness Studies at the University of Montana, and received her Clinical Herbalist Certificate from the Southwest School of Botanical Medicine in Bisbee, Arizona. She balances her time with backpacking and learning about native ecosystems, gardening and growing medicinal herbs, teaching classes and selling her line of herbal products at local markets and events. In the winter, she is a Wilderness EMT and a ski patroller.

Tyler Nordgren is an astronomer and Associate Professor of Physics at the University of Redlands in California. He earned his Ph.D in astronomy from Cornell University where he used some of the largest telescopes in the world to study dark matter in galaxies. In 2004 he was part of a team of seven astronomers and artists who converted the camera calibration targets on NASA's Mars Rover into functioning sundials still in operation on the Red Planet today. For the last four years he has been a member of the National Park Service Night Sky team working closely with astronomers and park rangers to protect our dark skies and promote astronomy education through their continued enjoyment. In 2008 he was one of Glacier National Park's Artists-in-Residence because of his photography of the night sky above the nation's parks.

Denny Olson ,a.k.a. “Critterman,” earned his M.S. in Zoology with a minor in Geology. He is a writer, actor and television personality. His master’s theses on loons led to a census technique still used in Minnesota and Wisconsin. He has published numerous books including Shared Spirits: Wildlife and Native Americans, Special Gifts: In Search of Love and Honor, Cougars: Solitary Spirits, Wisdom Warrior, and Way of the Whitetail.

David Powers, is an artist who lives in Great Falls, MT. He teaches drawing and painting privately and for the Great Falls School District's Adult Education Program out of his art studio. He earned his B.F.A. in illustration and photography from Columbus College of Art and Design, Columbus, OH, and a M.F.A from Maryland Institute College of Art's Mount Royal School of Painting in Baltimore, MD. He is an accomplished artist who works in the mediums of watercolor and egg/oil emulations in water. His subjects are the Western Landscape and the Nude. The Art Renewal Center has chosen his works for their 2007-08 and 2008-09 International Salon. International Art Magazine and American Artist Magazine are just a few of the publications that featured Powers in their articles.

Don Racine, White Clay, has been a traditional games teacher since October 2005.  He and his family know the values of the traditional games in bringing "community" back to the family and bringing the families together for laughter and play.

Paul Rappaport earned his MS in Geology from The University of Maine, with a focus on Glacial Geology and Quaternary Studies. Paul has conducted research in Antarctica and Scandinavia, and has traveled slowly through glaciated landscapes in Alaska, The Yukon and New Zealand by bicycle for months on end. Paul comes to The Glacier Institute with over 15 years of formal teaching and private consulting experience.

Chris Ruffatto earned two B.A. undergraduate degrees in Geography and Water Resources, and Industrial Arts from University of Montana and Montana State University. He teaches high school earth science and coordinates a water resource program for gifted and talented students. He has explored much of the Rocky Mountain west and works in Glacier National Park as a backcountry and whitewater guide. He has written articles on watershed quality, recreation and wilderness assessment.

Victor Sharp, Blackfeet, has been a teacher/presenter with the Traditional Games Society for three years.  His knowledge of crafting hoops and playing hoop games crosses many tribal cultures.  He is skillful with willow and rawhide hoops, darts, long arrows, and other traditional game equipment.

Dave Shea earned his M.S. in Resource Conservation and his B.S. in Wildlife Biology from University of Montana. He has explored Glacier National Park during his thirty-five years as a supervisory backcountry ranger and biologist. In addition to working for the Park Service, he worked for the U.S. Forest Service as a wildlife biologist and botanist. Dave has published several works including Bald Eagle Concentrations in Glacier National Park, Animal Tracks of Glacier, and Glacier’s Bird and Mammal Checklists.

Rick Sheremeta, ME, P.E. earned his ME degree in Environmental Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and his BS in Civil Engineering from Union College (NY). Rick is a professional photographer and writer. His images and articles on travel, gear and photographic techniques have been featured in Outdoor Photographer, Shutterbug, Women in the Outdoors, Distinctly Montana and Viewfinder magazines. He is also a contributor to Tamron USA’s Pro-Learning Center. He has participated in numerous photographic exhibitions and is a Best of Show Award recipient in the Palm Beach Photography Centre’s – In Focus Juried Exhibit. Rick is a Licensed Professional Engineer (Retired) and is a contract photographer for the Associated Press.

Jerda Smeltzer earned her M.S. in Geology, with a focus on hydrogeology, geochemistry and microbiology from the University of Montana. She is a geologist, outdoor educator, naturalist and photographer currently working in the Rockies and Olympics. She has created Ancestral Voice Photography and her work has been exhibited in galleries across the west, featured in numerous publications including Montana Magazine, the Denver Post, Aussie Times and the Seattle Times and is highlighted on dozens of websites.

Bill Taylor earned his M.A. in English and his B.A. in Secondary Education (History, English and Political Science) from the University of Montana. After retiring asan English high school teacher and passenger train manager, he gives lectures and teaches programs on rail history in Montana. He and his wife, Jan Taylor, have written three books on railroad history in Montana including The Butte Short Line: The Construction and Early Operation of NP’s Homestake Pass as well as articles in Montana Magazine.

Tom Ulrich earned his B.A. in Biological Sciences from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. As a professional photographer for thirty years, he has led photography workshops in many remote corners of the world. Tom won International Wildlife Photographer of the Year, and his work appeared in many publications including National Geographic Magazine, Life, National Wildlife, and Montana Outdoors. Also, he has published several books including Birds of the Northern Rockies, Mammals of the Northern Rockies, Once Upon a Frame, and Mt. Reynolds: The Story.

Ralph Waldt served as a naturalist for The Nature Conservancy at Pine Butte Preserve in Montana for eighteen years and now acts as  The Nature Conservancy Steward in the San Pedro River area in Southeast Arizona. His recently published book is entitled Crown of the Continent: The Last Great Wilderness of the Rocky Mountains.

Steve Wirt earned his B.S. in Resource Conservation from the University of Montana. He has been a forester and a fire manager with the U.S. Forest Service for twenty-five years. Steve has worked extensively with vegetation classification systems and is a well known wildlife and nature photographer.

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